Which four bowlers must play in next test?

[Texan]

I think one more pro that could count in Jadeja's favor is that majority of SA batsmen are right-handers and Jadeja turning the ball away would be harder to play than Ashwin bowling the ball in. I didn't watch the match to judge Ashwin's performance, but I feel that in his career so far, he has been outstanding in India. The problem though is that he has hardly played any Test cricket overseas and whatever he has played, he has been very disappointing.

[Soorma_Bhopali]

Seamers bowled 135 overs in last 4 sessions and with just 3 days turaround and in case, SA wi the toss and bat first ; there is a real danger of one of the seamers breaking down , especially Zaheer Khan . Therefore, to cover for the same, I would opt for Umesh Yadav in place of Ashwin.

[MCcricket]

Zak looks too stiff and bowled mediocre for most part, I would love to see Umesh, BK, Ishant, Shami

[CG]

I think with 3 days gap it will be hard for zak to play after bowling 50+ Overs.I would go with Shami,Yadav,Ishant,Zak if the pitch is green or unchanged team if zak pulls of well and the pitch is dry.

[cricketman]

A lot of people saying that playing 4 fast bowlers here could have won us the match. maybe, but it could have also backfired. Yadav and Ishant aren't the most trustworthy bowlers in the international circuit and are more than likely to have an off day and get CANED. You have to have some bowler that can run in and just keep one end tight, I think Ashwin provides that value for us. That being said I think that Ashwin needs to work on containing singles and bowling at 1 batsman throughout the over. That will build pressure for things to happen at the other end. I dont think Jadeja is ready as a test bowler to be the lone spinner. Again, I actually wouldn't mind playing him too (in place of Rohit) but I would be happy with the same XI.

[Sidhoni]

Shami, Yadav, Zak, Bhuvi/Ishant

[rkt.india]

A lot of people saying that playing 4 fast bowlers here could have won us the match. maybe, but it could have also backfired. Yadav and Ishant aren't the most trustworthy bowlers in the international circuit and are more than likely to have an off day and get CANED. You have to have some bowler that can run in and just keep one end tight, I think Ashwin provides that value for us. That being said I think that Ashwin needs to work on containing singles and bowling at 1 batsman throughout the over. That will build pressure for things to happen at the other end. I dont think Jadeja is ready as a test bowler to be the lone spinner. Again, I actually wouldn't mind playing him too (in place of Rohit) but I would be happy with the same XI.

Even Zak got caned, going over 4 rpo but the key is wickets. If you can pick up wickets, run scoring will eventually come down. Example ABDv's wicket, they got careful and then Faf and they had to bow out of chase. If you do not pick up wickets, batsmen will prevail eventually, so holding one end up wont mean much if they had done it.

[King Tendulkar]

Thinking about it this is my conclusion ASHWIN HAS TO PLAY Why you say? 4 seamers would be better, need someone who spins it away from righties. These will take more wickets. Yes possibly. But the important factor is this. Ashwin is a quality bat and all rounder. Things went well last match, his batting not really needed(still not out in 1st innings). But if we are 120/6, I know I will be glad he is in team and walking out to bat. You have to factor in worst case scenario and his batting could be the difference. He is certainly capable of scoring 50 and better. Wether he should be in team on bowling is marignal call. But still think in durban spin could be crucial and he could do well with ball anyway.

[CoverDrive]

All day yesterday all i could think of was - if we had Jadeja he would produce one of those special moments. IT also makes sense with so many right handers in SA.

[urbestfriend]

Thinking about it this is my conclusion ASHWIN HAS TO PLAY Why you say? 4 seamers would be better, need someone who spins it away from righties. These will take more wickets. Yes possibly. But the important factor is this. Ashwin is a quality bat and all rounder. Things went well last match, his batting not really needed(still not out in 1st innings). But if we are 120/6, I know I will be glad he is in team and walking out to bat. You have to factor in worst case scenario and his batting could be the difference. He is certainly capable of scoring 50 and better. Wether he should be in team on bowling is marignal call. But still think in durban spin could be crucial and he could do well with ball anyway.

DOnt mind playing Ashwin as long as there are 4 seamers ..If at all Ashwin plays for his batting abilities, he should replace one of the batsman..

[King Tendulkar]

DOnt mind playing Ashwin as long as there are 4 seamers ..If at all Ashwin plays for his batting abilities' date=' he should replace one of the batsman..[/quote'] We are not strong or enough or good enough to do that. Must play 6 bats and dhoni at 6. After that pick any 4 bowlers you want! Highest ashwin should bat is 8

[vishalvirsingh]

Shami' date=' Yadav, Zak, Bhuvi/Ishant[/quote'] Shammi Yadav,Zak and Ishant

[ThePhenomenal1]

ASHWIN WILL COST US because i bet he wont get a proper wicket even in durban. Rather have jadeja who holds up an end and gets wickets, not to forget, his amazing c&b moments. He can turn a chance into a wicket. Ashwin is inferiror in terms of quality and fielding. Jadeja can add runs too, even if he's not as technically great as ashwin. In 1st test, we didn't miss a batsman, we missed a wicket taking bowler who could get the extra wickets. Jadeja or yadav could be that bowler. Ashwin is not good enough right now

[rkt.india]

I don't remember Ashwin having a single appeal in this match.

[NareshK]

Ashwin contributed in drawing the game. He bowled 32 overs for 86 runs which is around 2.6 RPO which is way less than the required run rate. Imagine we had a seamer who gave away easy runs, it would have been impossible to defend the total and would have lost the game. Even though he didnt pick wickets, he did a decent job in second innings holding one end up. Credit where its due. Still need contribution in terms of wickets from the spinner or should play a 4th seamer if we have to bowl out a top side like SA.

[mancalledsting]

Thinking about it this is my conclusion ASHWIN HAS TO PLAY Why you say? 4 seamers would be better, need someone who spins it away from righties. These will take more wickets. Yes possibly. But the important factor is this. Ashwin is a quality bat and all rounder. Things went well last match, his batting not really needed(still not out in 1st innings). But if we are 120/6, I know I will be glad he is in team and walking out to bat. You have to factor in worst case scenario and his batting could be the difference. He is certainly capable of scoring 50 and better. Wether he should be in team on bowling is marignal call. But still think in durban spin could be crucial and he could do well with ball anyway.

couldnt agree more- needs time to prove whether he is useful/useless away from India

[rkt.india]

Ashwin contributed in drawing the game. He bowled 32 overs for 86 runs which is around 2.6 RPO which is way less than the required run rate. Imagine we had a seamer who gave away easy runs, it would have been impossible to defend the total and would have lost the game. Even though he didnt pick wickets, he did a decent job in second innings holding one end up. Credit where its due. Still need contribution in terms of wickets from the spinner or should play a 4th seamer if we have to bowl out a top side like SA.

:wall: I am continuously saying Ashwin's lack of wickets lead us to draw, not his holding one end up. If we had not picked ABDV, dumini and faf, we would have lost this match, then his hold one end up would not have meant anything. Fast bowler might have leaked runs, but would have picked wickets and picking up wickets was required and wins you test matches, not holding up ends.

[urbestfriend]

couldnt agree more- needs time to prove whether he is useful/useless away from India

He needs time, but more than that team needs balance to win a test match.

[Trichromatic]

Ashwin contributed in drawing the game. He bowled 32 overs for 86 runs which is around 2.6 RPO which is way less than the required run rate. Imagine we had a seamer who gave away easy runs, it would have been impossible to defend the total and would have lost the game. Even though he didnt pick wickets, he did a decent job in second innings holding one end up. Credit where its due. Still need contribution in terms of wickets from the spinner or should play a 4th seamer if we have to bowl out a top side like SA.

Lol, with Ashwin India was effectively playing with 3 bowlers and one of them is aging star who can't bowl with same intensity for long. This is not ODI cricket.

[vvvslaxman]

If not for anything for tactical reasons India must go with Jadeja . Series of right handers vs left arm round armish bowler like Herath. herath did trouble them at Durban. No brainer. I will be surprised if Ashwin gets picked again.